Identifying device.



F. B. REYNOLDS.

IDENTIFYING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I0. 1914. I

Patented May16,1916.

Wiimeooeo IHE COLU nrns FRANK B. REYNOLDS, OF DUBUQUE, .IOW'A.

IDENTIFYING DEVICE.

Application filed January 10, 1914.

all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK l3. REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Identifying Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The leading object of my invention is to provide mechanical means for validating documents, with special reference to validating accident insurance policies at railroad stations, hotels, etc., whereby a traveler is enabled, personally, with a coin of proper denomination to purchase a valid accident policy without application to other human agency.

The mode of construction and the manner of operating whereby I accomplish the objects sought are fully set out in the following specification when read in connection with the drawings accompanying the same and forming a part hereof.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view with part of the casing and one of a pair of inking pads removed for the sake of clarity. Fig. 3 is a perspective view with one side of the channel and part of the casing removed, showing the inside of the channel and the impression roller in position. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the impression roller. Fig. 5 is the channel and the casing of the channel removed. Fig. 6 is the hinge plate detached.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each of the drawings.

Having reference to the drawings 2 designates the top board, 4 the sides, 5 the base and 6 the rear of outer casing. Through the top of the casing is an opening 8, through which a plunger shaft 10 is adapted to operate. Said plunger shaft is provided with an operating handle 12, a cross bar 13 for means of guidance and stop and said shaft is surrounded by a coil spring 14. The bottom of plunger shaft 10 of which cross bar 13 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Seria1No.'811,359.

21 in which the coin is made to. travel and operate the impression roller.

Plates 7,9 and 11 form a coin channel by which the coin is guided as it is forced through the channel by the plunger 15.- The channel guides the coin till it engages the groove 21 in the hinged plate and then plate 11 and front plate 50 branch off substantially at right angles to allow the outward play of the hinge plate '20, when the coin is guided by the groove 21 in conjunction with the side plate 9 until it is forced into the receiving box below.

For the purpose of stamping the name upon the policy there is provided a roller 24 which is pivoted in a bifurcated arm 25. This arm extends forward and operates through the plate 18 and is beveled at its outer end at 26 and isadapted to be engaged by the hinged plate 20. Around the arm is coiled a spring 28 which engages the plate 18 and the bifurcated end of the arm 25. Above the roller 24: is an inked pad 30 and also below the roller is another inked pad 32. The lower inked pad forming a trackway for the roller.

The roller shown in Fig. 3 is provided with raised signatures 34 on its periphery which run lengthwise of the roller. The number of such raised signatures 34 is not more than two or three, and no two signatures appear diametrically opposite one another. The distance between the two inking surfaces or pads 30 and 32 is equal to the diameter of the roller 24 plus the depth of a raised signature. Therefore, the roller can rotate over the track-way provided by the pad 32, until one signature surface or another engages with one inking surface or the other. If the contact is between a signature surface and the lower inking surface, the signature is inked during the rolling contact thereof with the inking surface. If the contact is between the upper inking surface and a signature, the signature surface is lightly wiped over the upperinking surface and is inked thereby. These signatures are fac-similes of the signatures of the officers authorized to validate or sign a policy.

Facing and spaced from the rear of the back casing 4 is a plate 35 and on top of casing 2 is a pin 36 on which the policies or documents are to be hung. In the base of the casing is a box provided with a door 40 which has a slot 42 therein for the purpose of receiving the identification coupons incorporated in the policy. Also beneath the plunger 15 at the bottom of the casing is another box frame having a drawer 44. This is provided with a lock 45 and over this is the angled front plate 50. 46 is the opening into which the coin 48 is entered.

The manner of operating my device is as follows: The party desiring an accident policy removes the policy 38 from the pin 36 and places it between the end of the casing 4 and the plate 85 next to the plate. He then enters the coin 48 of the proper denomination, through the opening 46 and it drops vertically guided down the above described channel which substantially fits its diameter formed by the conjunction of plates 7, 9, and 11, until it strikes into the center of the chute or groove 21 on the hinge plate 20. Then the operator presses down upon the cap 12, which forces down the plunger 15 against the coin top and this forces down the hinge 20 and as it is brought down it engages the beveled end 26 of the bifurcated arm 25 and forces back the roller 24 until one of the signatures 34 comes in contact with the policy, which rests against plate 35, and impresses the signature thereon at the proper place. As the roller advancesto make the impression it becomes inked by pads 30 and 32. After the impression is made, then the spring 28 comes into action and draws back the roller and the arm to a position shown in Fig. 2. hen the coin has been forced down and has brought the hinged plate 20 against the end 26 and forced the roller back to make the signature, then the coin passes on down the trough 2'1 and drops into drawer 44 beneath, but the plunger is stopped by the cross arm 13 coming in contact with the upper end of the hinged plate 20. The spring 14 will then come into action and raise the plunger 15 to its normal position with bottom directly above opening 46 which operation allows all parts to resume original position. The operator then takes the policy out and writes his name upon the identification coupon attached to the policy and pushes the coupon through the slit 42 into the coupon box. It

will be seen by this mode of construction that party desiring an accident insurance policy can procure it in a very short space of time, and without any great delay or in convenience.

Having now described my invention what I claim is 1. In a document identifying device, the combination with a casing, of an inked trackway, a roller having a signature surface formed on its periphery in position to cooperate with said inked trackway, and a document holder provided across said casing, said document holder also lying in the path of movement of said roller to provide an impression plate to coact with said signature surface.

2. In a document identifying device, the combination with a casing of a roller, an elongated inking surface providing a trackway for said roller, a signature surface on said-roller, an actuating device for pushing said roller over the trackway, whereby said signature surface becomes inked, a document holding element mounted at the end of said casing and having an opening in communication with said trackway, said document holding element also acting as a backing for the document while the latter is being impressed by the signature surface on said roller.

8. In a document identifying device, the combination with a casing, a multi-surfaced inked trackway, a roller operative between said surfaces, signature surfaces formed on said roller and adapted to cooperate with the surfaces of said trackway, and a document holding element spaced from one end of said casing, said document holding element coming in the path of movement of said roller to provide an impression plate behind the document.

4. In a document identifying device, the combination with a casing, a multi-faced trackway, a roller operative through said trackway, inking surfaces on the faces of said trackway, signature surfaces on said roller, each of said signature surfaces being adapted to cooperate with one of said inking surfaces, means for moving said roller through said trackway, a document supporting device mounted in spaced relation to one end of said casing, the back of said document holding device appearing opposite the end of said trackway and constituting an impression plate adapted to coact with said signature surfaces.

5. In a document identifying device, the combination with a casing, an inked trackway provided in said casing, a roller operative over said trackway, a document holding device carried by one end of said casing, and appearing opposite the end of said trackway to constitute an impression plate for said roller, signature surfaces on said roller for stamping documents held by said document holder, and a receptacle mounted in said cas ing for receiving detached portions of the document.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK B. REYNOLDS.

lVitnesses M. M. GADY, B. M. I-IENsoHnL.

Copies of this patent may bee-obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Intel, Washington, D. G. 

